With Covid-19, many Canadian small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) rushed to accommodate remote work. This shift from the office space to the remote workspace continues to impact all SMBs. Especially as many employees in Canada’s largest cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver are opting to work remotely.
According to a recent study of Canadian workers, by the Angus Reid Institute, “only 36 per cent say they will likely go back to their place of work when Covid-19 concerns subside.” Resulting in about two-thirds of Canadian employees, who expect their employers to accommodate remote work.
In addition, many Canadian employees said they expected to split their time between their company’s office space and their home. Raising the question, how will Canadian employers, especially SMBs, adapt their work environments?
Also, how can businesses cut costs, leverage cloud based applications, upgrade their IT infrastructure and meet their employees’ remote work needs?
One way is through a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. When implemented strategically, a VDI solution increases a business’s ability to meet their employees needs, reduce their IT overhead and save money.
What is a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Solution?
A Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution is pretty straightforward. It’s a technology solution that allows a business to run its employees’ desktop from a secure central platform.
Their employees login over the business’s network using their own endpoint device (laptop, tablet, home office desktop and so forth). This is a virtualization solution.
What does a virtualization solution really mean?
A virtualization solution refers to a technology solution that creates a virtual version, instead of an actual physical version. The process for creating a virtualized solution is called virtualization.
Virtualization lets a business create IT services and technology solutions using resources that are traditionally tied to hardware.
For example, a VDI solution frees a business from purchasing, maintaining and/or upgrading any legacy IT hardware, like an employee’s desktop computer.
Using virtualization, a virtual desktop is created and hosted on a centralized server in a secure data center. Instead of employees using a company computer or device, they access the business’s network on their end, or endpoint, using their own devices.
Because employees are using their own endpoint devices, the hardware investment is greatly reduced. Also, a VDI solution is more flexible. Allowing for a diverse range of mobile and remote devices.
How a VDI Solution Helps Business Owners.
A VDI solution helps businesses on a number of levels. It helps reduce IT overhead. By using a VDI solution, the cost of managing independent user devices is reduced. This is particularly helpful to businesses struggling with aging hardware and legacy systems.
Leveraging cloud based applications is more seamless with VDI technology solutions. More businesses are already operating on or using cloud based applications. With a VDI solution, a business can integrate and scale their cloud based operations more efficiently.
Also a VDI environment makes it easier for businesses, no matter their size, to work with remote workers or contractors. Providing access or deploying a VDI solution for a remote worker or contractor is more efficient. With a VDI solution, a remote worker or contractor can access the business’ core software systems and network. The employer can also control and grant access securely and quickly with minimal IT investment.
The bonus is, regardless of where the employee or contractor is working from, they have access to the same consistent company network and resources. An employer can provide their remote worker or contractor with options when deploying a virtual desktop or VDI solution. They can opt for a persistent VDI or nonpersistent VDI.
Persistent VDI Solution. Creating a persistent VDI solution means each remote worker or contractor is assigned a single desktop they can customize to their individual user needs or preferences. Every time the employee or contractor logs on, their user settings are the same.
For remote workers, a personalized persistent VDI solution can increase their productivity. Because they access their user preferences, shortcuts, files and data on their own virtual desktop every time. It’s like having their own physical desktop computer in the office, but now it’s a virtual desktop. Accessible to them anytime and anywhere.
Nonpersistent VDI Solution. With a nonpersistent VDI, remote workers or contractors don’t have an assigned exclusive space. Their user preferences and data isn’t saved after they log off. The virtual desktop refreshes itself each time.
Some advantages of a nonpersistent VDI is the ability to quickly deploy organization wide applications to all remote workers or contractors. Managing and updating applications is easier. Also, since nonpersistent VDI solutions don’t allow remote workers or contractors to install their own software it reduces the potential for security breaches and decreases storage needs.
Finally, a VDI solution helps businesses manage configuration and cybersecurity quicker and better. Updates and configurations are automated and streamlined. This gives the company’s IT team extra support so they can focus on other key areas.
Also, because all data is hosted in a secure data center, it limits the exposure of the business. A VDI solution can also provide strict controls to minimize any remote workers or contractors deviating from the business’ security practices and overall company standards.
Where to Start When it Comes to VDI Solutions?
Any business, no matter its size, which has remote workers or contractors would benefit from a VDI solution. But the question most business owners have is where to start?
Switching to a VDI model that leverages cloud based applications isn’t daunting with the right expertise.
Since all VDI solutions are hosted in a data center, start by working with a data center, like Clarity, that has deep cybersecurity knowledge and IT consulting services. Particularly, because a VDI solution isn’t just about hosting a virtual desktop, it’s also about designing it, deploying it, protecting it, securing it and managing it.
Clarity’s full spectrum technology solutions is why businesses, of all sizes, looking for remote work options connect with us.
Clarity’s VDI Solutions Specialists start by working with your business and IT team. We assess your overall IT needs. This includes reviewing your hardware and any legacy hardware. As well as reviewing cloud based services and IT needs. Including reviewing any existing cloud contracts for savings, licensing requirements and data protection needs.
Plus, our deep cybersecurity expertise means Clarity provides both cybersecurity and cloud security assessment and support.
After completing a comprehensive assessment, our VDI Solutions Specialists provide you and your IT team with a straightforward VDI implementation plan. We clearly outline your VDI solution options based on your business needs.
By providing clear VDI solutions, we ensure business owners understand the benefits and see the cost savings. In addition, we make sure you understand your technology needs along with any compliance and regulatory requirements specific to your industry.
Our VDI Solutions Specialists know the rapid shift to remote work and growing demands placed on businesses to provide VDI environments is stressful. That’s why we work closely with businesses to make their VDI solutions clear. Taking the worry out of moving to remote working environments.
Connect with Clarity to learn more about how our VDI Solutions Specialists can help your business successfully and securely switch to a remote working environment.